SSWH 1 PresentationAncient World

The Beginning of Civilization

What makes a civilization?1. Centralized Government2. Organized Religion3. Job Specialization/ Social Classes4. Arts, Architecture, Technology5. Infrastructure6. Writing

SSWH1

Analyze the origins, structures, and interactions of societies in the ancient

world from 3500 BCE/BC to 500 BCE/BC.

A.

Compare and contrast Mesopotamian and Egyptian societies, include: religion,

culture, economics, politics, and technology.

3000 BC - City-states form in Sumer, Mesopotamia

2500 BC - Sumerian metalworkers produce bronze spearheads

2350 BC - Sargon defeats the city-states of Sumer

2000 BC - Babylonian empire begins to develop in Mesopotamia

1792 BC - Hammurabi begins to develop code of laws for Babylonian Empire

Why are the Mesopotamians so important?It is known as the “Cradle of Civilization” because it was first in many things:● First to invent the wheel● First to use sails on boats● One of first to make up a story (Gilgamesh)● First to use cuneiform (writing)● First to use the calendar● First to use the seeder plow● First to give a number place value and recognize the concept of

zero

Mesopotamia Geography

● Mesopotamia means between the rivers

● Located between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers ○ hot dry climate mixed with

seasonal flooding from the rivers● Extended from the Mediterranean

Sea to the Persian Gulf● Most of Mesopotamia was located in

present day Iraq● Considered a River Valley

Civilization

Mesopotamia Geography

● The rivers would overflow, leaving behind a rich black silt.○ Very unpredictable - made it

hard to determine when to plant○ Believed when it flooded the

gods were angry with them● Environmental effects impacted the

development of to politics and civilizations.○ Mesopotamia marked by

frequent change.

Mesopotamia Geography and Development

● The first phase of Mesopotamia’s political history○ Sumer, was dominated by

several independent and often warring city-states, each with its own hereditary monarch

○ Each city-state had a walled urban area made up of simple mudbrick dwellings and a ceremonial and administrative center dominated by a Ziggurat.

Organization of the City

● Role of the city:○ Religious center (ziggurat)○ Political center (palace)○ Trading center (market)○ Storage for surplus food○ Walls served as defense for

citizens● Outside of the city walls, each

city-state controlled the large areas of surrounding farmland land.

City-States

● Around 4,000 years ago the King of Akkad, Sargon, conquered the region creating the world’s first empire. ○ relatively short lived as several

waves of invasions and insurrection shifted political power to other groups.

● Babylonians brought important political innovation when they unified the region

City-States● Babylonian Empire focused on

developing mathematics and literature.

● Babylonians fell to invasion ○ Caused a series of warring

empires ■ Hittites - iron technology■ Assyrians who rose in

power around 1900 BCE■ Persians who began to

build a long-lived empire around 550 BCE.

Government● Many laws were in place and they varied from city

state to city state

● King Hammurabi conquered the area and created Babylonia○ Had created written laws that everyone had to

follow ■ 282 laws

● the laws were written in stone (steele) and placed in a public location

● Based on “eye for an eye”

Hammurabi’s Code

● dealt with many aspects of daily life: ○ property rights○ Business services○ Crime○ Family and marriage

“to promote the welfare of the people, make justice visible in the land, destroy the wicked person and the evil, in order that the strong might not injure the weak.”

● protected women and children● Women still had fewer privileges

and rights■ expressed the patriarchal

nature of society● placed all groups in the empire

under one law● the intent was to provide a clear

system to let all people know of the laws

Social Organization & Daily Life

● The King held military powers. ● The Governors governed the

territories of the kingdom. ● The aristocracy were priests and

traders. ● The peasants worked the land.

Mesopotamia Agriculture● Farmers grew wheat, barley,

dates, and other items.● Farmers used irrigation & the

plow● Irrigation created a surplus of

food which led to the growth of cities

● Surplus led to a successful system of trade

● Used the rivers for food and trade

Writing

● first to use writing (around 3,000 BC)● cuneiform - wedge shaped symbols pressed

into clay tablets

What was it used for?● wrote myths and poems

○ most famous was the epic poem called Gilgamesh

● keep records of their transactions ● send messages to other lands without traveling● pass on their knowledge to future generations

Economy● Mesopotamia lacked resources

○ Traded to get metals, timber, stone, and grapevines, etc● At first, the Sumerians traded surplus for these goods

○ later they would develop manufactured goods

● Used the rivers for a trading system● created written contracts, loans and a credit

system● They used a barter system.

○ Traded one good for another● The ability to produce a surplus allowed for

specialization of work

Religion● Mesopotamians were polytheistic ● Each town was protected by its own, unique deity or god ● The temple, the center of worship, was also the center of every

city - ziggurats● Gods of Mesopotamia were viewed as unpredictable and often

elicited the fear from the people

● Mesopotamians had a very pessimistic view on life○ Tied to the rivers overflowing and

destroying so much○ believed success of crops

depended on the gods

Religion● Wealth devoted to building temples

○ tried to win their approval with sacrifices and the construction of elaborate temples, aka ziggurats

● Ziggurats housed for the priests and priestesses● Believed Priest to be representative to the gods

Egyptian Geography

● The Red Lands○ Barren desert○ Created a

barrier around Egypt

○ Provided a source of precious metals and stones

● Land was viewed as divided into two areas:

● The Black Lands○ Was fertile due to

the black silt left behind after flooding

○ Used for growing crops

Egyptian GeographyThe Nile ● Flows

northward● Longest river

in the world● Splits Egypt

into Upper and Lower Egypt

Benefits:● Predictable

yearly flooding allowed farming settlements to grow

● Worshiped the river as a god b/c of its abundance

● ancient Egyptians lived along the Nile River because it is close to land that can grow crops.

Egyptian Agriculture

● Egyptian society could not have been established without the Nile flooding

● Produced surplus of food

● Hand plowed and oxen plowed the fields

● Use of irrigation● Grew wheat, barley,

lettuce and beans

Writing● Known as hieroglyphics - series of pictographs● Written on papyrus● Concept was brought to Egypt through trade with

Mesopotamia● Until the Rosetta Stone was discovered by

Napoleon’s army hieroglyphics could not be translated

What was it used for?

● Original idea: provide the means to bring a concept or event into existence

● Began to be used for religious purposes● Eventually was used to record trade

Egyptian Economy● Based on farming and

fishing● Taxes paid using

agriculture● Used a barter system● They used a barter system.

○ Traded one good for another

● The ability to produce a surplus allowed for specialization of work

Egyptian Religion● Polytheistic● Egyptian Pharaoh = living god● Theocracy = rule based on religious

authority

● Pyramids - built to house the Pharaoh in the afterlife

● Egyptian religion provided a sense of stability

● There was no word for religion● It was an integral part of life

Egyptian Religion● Religion provided explanations for the natural world● Belief in the afterlife● gods were divided into two categories, sun gods and earth gods● The government devoted enormous amounts of wealth to

temples and the gods

Egyptian Government

● God-King (Pharaoh)

● Upper Class of Nobles and Priests

● Merchants, Artisans, Scribes, and Tax Collectors (The Middle Class)

● Peasants – the largest number of people in Egypt simply worked the land

Social Organization & Daily Life

● Paternalistic society● However, women had a great many

freedoms● Optimistic society - saw their gods

as benevolent● Practiced many forms of

entertainment● houses were built from mud - cool

on the inside & had flat roofs so that in the summer time people could sleep on the tops of them

B.

Describe the societies of India and China, include: religion, culture,

economics, politics, and technology.

India

Where is India?

China

Where is China?

Early Indian Civilization● Farming villages first appeared in

the fertile plain between the Indus and Ganges rivers○ South Asia about 3200 BCE

● Climate is dominated by monsoon rains

● Walls of mountains to the north and west partially isolate its people

● Cities were elevated○ surrounded by earthen walls

and levees to protect them from flooding

Early Indian Civilization

● Inside the walls, the streets were laid out on a grid system.

● Homes were constructed of baked brick○ bathroom served by a city-wide

sewer and plumbing system● Each city had a fortified citadel

○ served as the political and religious center

● Economy was dependent on agriculture

Early Chinese Civilization

● The farming villages between the Huang He and Yangtze Rivers of China grew into cities about 2000 BCE. ○ Benefited from and suffered

because of the rich but loose yellow silt deposited by the flooding of Yangtze

● Pro - the fertile soil supported agriculture

● Con - its loose nature made major shifts in the course of the river and massive floods common

Early Chinese Civilization

● Chinese used flood control and irrigation

● First documented dynasty of China was the Shang○ Started a long tradition of

governance that included a hereditary monarch supported by a complex bureaucracy

○ Craft production and trade were also present

○ Saw the emergence of interconnected Chinese religious principles.

Early Chinese Civilization

● Concept of Yin and Yang○ offered an early and enduring

understanding of the universe as balanced between male and female forces

● Daoism, founded by Lao Tsu○ asked humanity to respect and

live in harmony with nature○ ancestor worship venerated

deceased family members in the hope that they would intercede with the powers in Heaven on behalf of the living.

Religion

● Belief in supernatural forces● Priests would read oracle

bones● Belief in life after death● Ancestor worship

● Polytheistic● Religion was tied tightly to

everyday life● Theocratic rule● Vedic Religion - predecessor

to Hinduism● Four religious texts● Belief in the “cycle of life”

China India

Culture

● Some natural barriers● Higher classes lived in the city● Lower classes lived outside the

city● Constant conflict - warlike● The group is greater than the

individual● Family is central to society● Paternalistic

● Social division was not great● Prosperous society● Limited conflict - natural barriers● Paternalistic● Developed a written language● Planned cities - grid system● Around 1750BC culture began to

decline

China India

Economics

● Agricultural based society - most peasants were farmers

● Feudal system develops○ Peasants worked their lords

land inside the walled towns○ Peasant had small plots of

land outside the walls○ Merchants and artisans lived

inside the walled towns

● Thriving trade system● Indus River provided access to

the sea - long distance trading● Barter system● Grew cotton to make cloth● Trade began - 2600 BC● Unpredictability of monsoons

made it hard to farm effectively○ farms were located directly

connected to the Indus

China India

Politics

● City wall built to protect the city

● Constant conflict● Professional warriors● Farming society ruled by an

aristocracy● Central government (King)

with governors in charge of territories to help govern

● Strong central government● Citadel to protect the royal

family● City walls to protect the city● Belief in Karma● System of taxation

China India

Technology

● Flood control and irrigation products

● Mastery of bronze casting● Advances in farming

techniques○ Irrigation○ Plowshares

● Written language

● Use of sophisticated plumbing and sewage

● Advances in math● Made bricks to build structures● Used bronze● Constructed tools● Used a measuring system● Use of water storage

China India

C.

Explain the development of monotheism, include: the concepts developed by the

ancient Hebrews.

Bible History on How Hebrews Came to be...

● Abram lived with his father’s family in Ur but was ‘touched’ by a belief in God

● The king wanted to kill him - his family got out of there - met & married Sarai

● At age 75 God called on him to move south to the land of Canaan, which his descendants would inherit - so he got up and went

● They reached it - God reaffirmed his promise● At 86 with no son, Sarai offered her handmaid to Abram - got his

first son, Ishmael

Bible History on How Hebrews Came to be...

● 13 years later, God appeared, renewed his promise, changed their names, & told Abraham, Sarah was pregnant & that child, Isaac, would be the son of the covenant

● MANY MANY MANY years later descendants began to move into Egypt and eventually the Hebrews are taken as slaves for 400 years

● Moses shows up, plagues, parts the sea, leads the people out of Egypt and back to Canaan

● Received the Ten Commandments● Couple Hundred years later - the Hebrews unite to form the kingdom of

Israel

What did the Ancient Hebrews believe?

● That there was only one god● God had power over everyone and

would protect them● God gave them 10 Commandment to

obey● The Torah is the history of the

Hebrews

Key Facts about the Ancient Hebrews

● Judaism spread because of the forced movement of the Hebrews (Jews)

● First to practice monotheism● Abraham is the “Father of the

Jews”● Ancient Hebrew monotheism most

influenced current day Christianity

D.

Identify the Bantu migration patterns and contribution to settled agriculture.

What

continent

is this?

BANTU MIGRATION:

● Africa: earliest ancestors of modern people

● all speaking languages derived from one language, Bantu

● Most closely associated with spreading of cultures in Africa

● Primary reason for migrating was to find land for farming and grazing

● Farmers & ironworkers, their slash and burn style of farming forced them to move

Located in Modern day Cameroon

BANTU MIGRATION:

● The Bantu cleared the land, then fertilized it with ashes.

● When the land could no longer support their families, the Bantu moved further south.

● Stayed on the move to avoid conflict with local hunting and gathering societies

● After hundreds of years, the Bantu settled in southern Africa - didn’t move north because the Sahara Desert blocked the movement

Located in Modern day Cameroon

BANTU

● settled near rivers and lakes for the ability to irrigate

● Bantu introduced settled agriculture to areas they passed through

●spread the use of iron (spread of technology)

● Bantu speakers spread their language and skills all throughout Africa

● African languages today have Bantu roots

E.

Explain the rise of the Olmecs.

Olmecs were located in Modern

Day Mexico.

Rise of the Olmecs● Geographic isolation made them

unique ● Agricultural villages based on the

cultivation of corn, beans, and squash emerged about 3500 BCE.

● Olmec culture found in the modern Mexican states of Veracruz and Tabasco.

● Political and social structure developed as a result of agricultural surplus and the need to mobilize large numbers of people

Rise of the Olmecs● Needed people in order to:

○ construct irrigation systems○ ceremonial buildings○ drain land for farming

● Sophisticated urban planning based on:○ Movement of the stars○ Creation of artwork including

several giant Olmec head statues, and the construction of monumental architecture

Rise of the Olmecs● Each Olmec city was independently

ruled by a hereditary monarch ○ Maintained power by presenting

himself as an intermediary to the gods.

● Rulers and priests performed rituals on large platforms in the center of each○ included bloodletting and

human sacrifice● served to reinforce the power of the

state

Olmec (1200-400 BC)

● First major civilization ○ in Mexico○ to use ballgames in the Americas○ the first complex civilization in

Mesoamerica● Settled along rivers with good soil for

agriculture● Farming led to the development of

towns● The Empire ended due to changes in

the soil which led to under production of crops